THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday warned the public against risks of eating “halo-halo” sold in the streets, saying ingredients of the classic Filipino cooler can easily get contaminated and spoiled.
“We have to be very careful. Halo-halo is very complicated as many ingredients can become contaminants,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said at a media forum in Manila.
Herbosa said consuming halo-halo with contaminated components can lead to diarrhea and gastroenteritis, among others.
Halo-halo is especially popular during the hot months, with street vendors sprouting in almost every community. Halo-halo is made of crushed ice, evaporated or coconut milk, and various other ingredients such as ube jam, sweetened kidney beans or garbanzo beans, coconut strips, “sago (tapioca pearls),” “gulaman (gelatin of jelly),” “pinipig (dried rice flakes),” and boiled taro, among others.
Herbosa said crushed ice used in the halo-halo being sold in the streets is one of the primary sources of potential contamination. He said the ice used mostly come from a factory and is not meant for consumption.
“It is not filtered or potable water. It’s just meant for the ice chest in storing fish,” he said.
On milk and other sweetened ingredients used in the dessert, these may also get contaminated when exposed under the sun for hours. He said these should be refrigerated.
On water used for washing glasses may also be a cause of contamination.
“The glasses could be unclean. How are they washed? Are they just washed in a bucket or in running water?” he said.
